Tree holder



.18, 1940. w. H. LElss TREE HOLDER. 'Filed Jan; 18. 1939 Patented June ils, 1940 UNITED vSTATES PATENT oFFlcf.

TREE HoLDEn Walter H. Pleiss, Ludington, Mich. Application January 1s, 1939,. serial No. 251,536

3 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to tree holders and has its particular adaptation to trees of the smaller variety such as Christmas trees to support them in the home in such a way as to prevent the marring of iioors and other inconveniences.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a holder of this nature wherein the supporting legs are yieldably held in position and are 'easily removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tree holder which is economically manufactured, simple in construction and may be readily assembled or disassembled.

Other objects and purposes of thel invention will appear more fully as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particular,- ly pointed out in the claims.

.Theannexed drawing and following description set forth in detail certain means embodying the invention, said means constituting, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of my invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my tree holder.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the holding cup and one of vthe sockets thereon showing one y of the supporting legs in position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the supporting legs.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of one of the sockets adapted to receive the legs and,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a portion. of the holder as shown in Fig. 1.

Heretofore it has been the usual practice in tree holders of this nature to provide them with a cup to which is permanently secured a plurality of supporting legs which had at the top thereof certain means for holding the tree in an upright position.` Constructions'of this type had their chief disadvantage in the manner which it was necessary to pack and ship them and I have been able t0 obviate this difficulty by providing on the cup a plurality of sockets which are adapted to receive an end of the supporting legs. The legs are thus held in the sockets by means of a tension spring which frictionally engages the outer surface of the cup. The cup is prevented from being forced past the top edge of the supporting legs by means of an outturned lip which is adapted to rest on the upper edges of said legs. In order to remove the legs and disassemble the device itis merely necessary to slide them downwardly and apply enough force to overcome the tension of the spring which yieldably holds them in place.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing my invention comprises a cup I having a bottom 2 secured thereto and having an outturned lip 3 around the upper edge thereof. In spaced relation around the outer side of said cup is a plurality of sockets 4 which preferably have a V-shape, although it will be obvious that any other desired configuration may be used Without 15 in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

The supporting legs 5 are also of a shape to correspond to the shape of the sockets 4, which in this case would be V-shaped. These legs extend vertically upwardly at one end and when in place are adapted to extend outwardly a sufficient distance at the other end to adequately supportv the Weight of the tree which is placed in the cup 3, and at their outer ends they are 25 provided with pads 6 which not only prevent the scratching and marring-of the floor but also tend to hold the device in its entirety in one place.

Within the vertical upturned portion of the supporting legs is secured at one end, such as by 30 welding or any other desired means, a tension spring l. Each of the sockets 4 have open lower ends to receive the vertical upturned portionsof the supporting legs 5. This portion of the legs is inserted in the open lower ends of the sockets and forced upwardly at which time the tension spring 1 will frictionally engage the outer side of the cup I to thereby yieldably hold said legs in place. This portion of each leg is prevented from being moved beyond the top edge of the cup l because of its contact with the outturned lip 3.

To remove the legs it is only necessary to apply suflicient force in a downward direction thereon to overcome the tension of the spring 1.

Above the lip 3 the sockets 4 are continued 45 and their shape is changed somewhat near the top. At the top of the sockets 4 their shape is rectangular and a block 8 is inserted within the edges thereof. Holes 9 are formed through the block 8 and 4the outer flat edge of the sockets 4 50 and are threaded to receive the thumb screws Il!` so that upon the placing of a tree, or other article to be ysupported in the cup, these thumb screws may be brought into contact with the article to thus hold it in an upright position.

or the equivalent of such stated means be em- Played.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described comprising, a cup, a plurality of elongated sockets thereon, supporting means for said cup adapted to be received in said sockets, a lip extending around said cup adaptedto rest on saidsupporting means and tension springs on said supporting means to yleldably hold said supporting means in place.

2. A device ot the class described comprising, a cup having a lip around the upper edge thereoi', a plurality oi' sockets spaced around said cup having open lower ends, a plurality of supporting legs adapted to be received in said sockets, said lip resting on the upper edges ot said legs, and means for holding said legs in place in said sockets.

3. A device of the class described comprising, a cup having an outturned lip around the upper edge thereof, a plurality ot v-shaped sockets secured in spaced relation around the outer side thereof, a plurality of V-shaped supporting legs adapted to be received in said sockets, said lip adapted to. rest on the upper edges of said legs, and spring means secured to said legs adapted to contact the outer side of said cup to thereby yieldably hold said legs in said sockets.

WALTER H. PLEISS. 

